Networks

Question

Two Routers on Home Network

I currently have DSL and a wireless gateway. The 54 mbps isn't cutting it and neither is the short range of wireless.I want to know if and how to wire two gateways or routers together so I can use the full bandwidth of the DSL connection.

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Your comment of 54Mbps not cutting it is a bit confusing, since that data rate should be a great deal more than the data rate provided by DSL service. Could you explain what you meant by that?

Also could you give more details about your network and how it is setup physically? It would be helpful to the members as they can give help that is more accurate and useful.

It sounds like you are losing throughput due to signal loss. As mentioned converting to 802.11n equipment might help improve that situation. Or you could relocate the wireless device to a position that will improve signal strength.

Adding another wireless device is a possibility as well, it can be added via Ethernet cable or as a wireless repeater (WDS mesh). It really depends on your specific conditions as there are positive and negative aspects to either approach.

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I don't know networking - hence the question - but I guess the 54mbps is my wireless LAN speed. My DSL (WAN) is supposed to be 128mbps. The wireless gateway I got from Verizon is in the middle of a 50 ft long house and I get "Low" strength readings at either end of the house. I think adding a router is possible, thus extending the LAN to both ends of the house.

"Adding another wireless device is a possibility as well, it can be added via Ethernet cable or as a wireless repeater (WDS mesh). It really depends on your specific conditions as there are positive and negative aspects to either approach."

I want to make the fatest pipe from my ISP to my 5 connections.

I don't know if Verizon DSL supports 802.11n devices in this area yet, but all the wireless computers on my network are running 802.11g (the xbox says it's 802.11a?).

Copper beats wireless any day

For 5 devices, whatever device was supplied by Verizon, drops off in performance quickly as you increase the number of devices that run through it. The device should also have ports for wired connections, and I would pull Cat5e wire to any/all non-portable devices. Add a switch if you have to in order to connect the number of wired devices you need to.

Hopefully you'll just be left with 1-2 wireless devices and the performance of the wireless gateway should suffice.

If the wireless device still doesn't cut it, and/or you still need to increase the range of the wireless signal, then it's not a router that you want to add, but a wireless access point (WAP). You can get another router/wireless device as it may be more readily available and reasonably priced, but you'll connect it in such a way as to disable its routing (and DHCP) functions and just use it as a WAP. If you end up doing this, then I would put the Verizon device at one end of the house and the 2nd WAP at the other end of the house and configure them with the same SSID and security settings, with one WAP on channel 1 and the other on channel 6.

By the way, 802.11a is a standard for wireless ethernet over 5GHz instead of the more common 2.4GHz. The Xbox I believe is a combo 802.11a/b device so it supports 2.4GHz which you're using or the relatively uncommon 5GHz.

Lastly, another option may be to have Verizon swap their device for their standard wired device, and then you'll have your choice of common off-the-shelf wireless devices, like the N-series. Support of an N-series from Verizon is a non-issue because ethernet is ethernet, so it will work fine.

Great Info

I pretty much agree with churdoo. The options were explained very well.

I doubt seriously that the DSL is 156Mb, but more likely 1.5Mb. That is OK though as having weak RF propagation throughout the house will give the appearance that the wireless is the problem.

If possible and you have enough switch ports on the Verizon router, I would add an access point at each end of the house using Ethernet cables. Churdoo mentioned something similar to this as well. This would give you optimal wireless coverage with minimal backhaul losses. If that is not possible I would consider running a WDS network with two wireless repeaters at either end of the house. You will lose throughput, but at least you will have effective connectivity.

"VDSL SpeedVDSL operates over the copper wires in your phone line in much the same way that ADSL does, but there are a couple of distinctions. VDSL can achieve incredible speeds, as high as 52 Mbps downstream (to your home) and 16 Mbps upstream (from your home). That is much faster than ADSL, which provides up to 8 Mbps downstream and 800 Kbps (kilobits per second) upstream. But VDSL's amazing performance comes at a price: It can only operate over the copper line for a short distance, about 4,000 feet (1,200 m)."

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